They are not cowards, they don't give a single shit about it. There isn't enough backlash to effect Google so Google doesn't care. That is how corporations deal with every subject. They don't treat child porn differently becuase it's one of the more henious offenses; it's simply another rule broken and it is delt woth the same way as anyother broken law or rule: ignore it or throw money at it and admit no wrong doing.